Pictured: The houses hidden under giant rocks on the beautiful Greek island of Ikaria
The Greek island of Ikaria is dotted with "anti-piracy" stone houses These are dwellings built under rocks to hide the residents from piratesThe idea was to trick pirates into thinking the island was completely uninhabited MORE: Images breathtaking shortlisted for Sony Photography Awards 2023< p class="author-section byline-plain">By Ailbhe Macmahon for Mailonline
You thought "living under a rock" was just a turn of phrase? Think again.
See the "anti-piracy" houses on the Greek island of Ikaria, centuries-old dwellings that were built under rocks to camouflage them into the landscape, so they cannot be spotted by Aegean pirates.
Described as a "unique life support system" by the local tourist board, the idea was to trick the pirates into believing that the island was completely uninhabited.
Proving enduring design, many of these fascinating one-story houses - away from the coast, hidden in the mountains - remain today.
"Anti-piracy" buildings - which served as both places of worship and homes - "just looked like rocks" from a distance, according to the Office of the tourism. As an added security measure, they had no chimneys, so the wisps of smoke couldn't betray their location.
You thought "living under a rock" was just a turn of phrase? Think again.
See the "anti-piracy" houses on the Greek island of Ikaria, centuries-old dwellings that were built under rocks to camouflage them into the landscape, so they cannot be spotted by Aegean pirates.
Described as a "unique life support system" by the local tourist board, the idea was to trick the pirates into believing that the island was completely uninhabited.
Proving enduring design, many of these fascinating one-story houses - away from the coast, hidden in the mountains - remain today.
"Anti-piracy" buildings - which served as both places of worship and homes - "just looked like rocks" from a distance, according to the Office of the tourism. As an added security measure, they had no chimneys, so the wisps of smoke couldn't betray their location.
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